Packing ring construction



- Oct. 27, 1936.

PACKING RING CONSTRUCTION.

Fil'd Feb. 17, 1954 llll W MIQHIIL L J. DEEGAN I 2,058,420

Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

outward radial or circumferential expansion in.

the cylinder.

which the two spring actions may be independently varied or adjusted. I

Another object is to provide a construction in which the longitudinal expansion against the side .walls of the piston can be controlled and increased or decreased by simple changes in the basic construction.-

Another object is to provide a construction of the foregoing character in which the rings'are held snugly in position but are left "free to float and adjust themselves to the piston groove and to the cylinder wall. a

According to one form of the invention the piston ring construction includes two ring members adapted to fit within the usual groove of a piston. These ring members are themselves provided with grooves in one of which is located a circumferentially extending helical expanding spring which expands the rings against the inner cylinder wall. In the other grooves I mount a a special spring member or curved springs which are connected by a single resilient band.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of construction embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View of parts of a piston with the ring construction in place, the parts of the piston being shown separated.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with parts of the piston being connected together. 0 Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a fragment of the spring assembly which provides the expansibility longitudinally of the axis of the piston and'against the side walls of the groove in 5n the piston. Y

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view .of a part of the circumferentially expanding spring showing the junction between the two ends of the coil.

The piston in the usual manner has a main part '8 and a detachable follower plate or junk Another Object is to provide a construction'in ring 9 which are normally connected together by studs ill and nuts l0. A groove is formed between these parts in the usual manner to receive the rings H and I! which may be circumferentially grooved. if desired, in the customary man- 5 ner. Each ring is provided with a curved groove l3 and the two combined form a seat for the expanding spring I which may be of suitable construction. Each groove I3 is preferably on an are 10 of 90 or somewhat less. The ends of this spring are adapted to be connected by a plug member l5 which extends into the adjacent ends of the coil and may have a flange Hi to hold it in place.

This spring may be'compressed more or less by l 5.-

adding or subtracting washers I! on the plug ii. The longitudinal expansion of the rings against the side walls l8, [8 of the groove in the piston iseifected by a curved or arch-like spring member 19 whose ends or edges seat in grooves 20 20 in therespective rings. This spring member may be in one or more pieces. In the form shown springs l9 are integral with or riveted orotherwise secured to a band 2i which may itself be resilient and expansible to facilitate assembly and adjustment. The ends of the band 2| may be overlapped and secured together at 22 if desired.

These spring members is may be variously designed and any suitable number may be employed to provide the necessary expansille force so as to prevent leakage at the sides of .the groove. This side pressure, however, must not be great enough to interfere with the free floating action of the rings in the piston and yet the pressure must be sufficient to keep the rings in place against the adjacent walls when the piston moves sideways due to vibration, etc. This side pressure can be adjusted by adding or removing units of the curved springs without 40 affecting the pressure of the individual rings against the side walls. In case ,the spring members 19 are integral with the band 2| adjustment can be secured by altering the contour, height or number of the spring members.

In a properly designed piston ring construction the, pressure outwardly and longitudinally should be nicely balanced so as to prevent the working fluid leaking behind the ring which would cause excessive pressure against the cylinder wall and result in excessive friction and wear on the ring and cylinder.

It will be understood that each piston ring may be of the split type and have a key or connecting member 23 le into recesses in the adjacent ends of the ring. This key member may have studs 24, 24 to fit into corresponding recesses in the ends 0! the ring so as to limit the expansion of the ring and so as to seal the joint or butt to prevent leakage to or around the back side of the rings.

The rings may be employed as packing in pumps and the like or in piston valves. In fact although the invention is primarily designed for use in steam pistons, it should be understood that the particular fluidiemployed is immaterial.

I claim:

1. 'A piston construction including two rings to be mounted in a groove in a piston, a circumferentialiy expansible and adjustable spring for pressing said rings outwardly against theinner side walls of a cylinder and a separate spring member for pressing the rings against the side walls of the groove and including an expansible band having a number of arched spring pieces with their free ends seated in the two rings.

2. A piston construction comprising a body portion having a groove, two split rings positioned in said groove alongside each other arid provided with arcuate shaped grooves in the inner adjacent edges thereof and with circumferential inner grooves, a helical spring positioned in the space formed by said grooves for expanding said rings outwardly, an expansibie band mounted in the pistongroove behind the helical coil and separate arcuate shaped spring arms secured to said band and radiating therefrom and having their free ends seated in the inner circumferential grooves in the rings for lateral expansion thereof.

JOHN G. DEEGAN. 

